Oak Forest Remembers Police Officer James Morrissy 3 Years After Tragic Death

OAK FOREST, IL - It has now been three years since the tragic death of Oak Forest Police Officer James Morrissy and the city continues to remember him and consider him a vital member of the community.

A tribute to Morrissy was held at the Oak Forest City Council meeting earlier this week, when Police Chief Timothy Kristin said members of the police force still mourn the death of the 34-year veteran of the Oak Forest Police Department, the Daily Southtown reported.

Morrissy was assisting another officer with a domestic situation at 160th and Cicero around 2:15 p.m. on March 17, 2014 when he made a left hand turn from 160th Street onto Cicero Avenue and was struck by another car on the driver’s side. He was pronounced dead shortly after Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn.

"Worst day of my career," then-Oak Forest Police Chief Greg Anderson told Patch the night of Morrissy’s death. "A very sad day for Oak Forest.”

Read More: Oak Forest Police Officer Dies After Crash on Cicero Avenue

Anderson then described Morrissy as “an outstanding officer.”

“He worked as hard today as he did the first day he got on the job."

The Oak Forest Police Department has since retired Morrissy’s badge number 172 and created an award in his namesake for excellence within the department, according to the Southtown.

Morrissy, who was 62 when he died, was survived by a wife and three sons.

File photo